Automatic wagon-brake.



No. 735,124. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903.

J. A. MANOR. AUTOMATIC WAGON BRAKE.

APPLICATION rum) saw. 2, 19oz.

N0 MODELv 6.1L Jim cams pcrzn'fl'oui uqto-umm WASHINGTON, o. c.

Patented August 4, 190a.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. MANOR, OF FRISTOE, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC WAGON-BFlAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 735,124, dated August4, 1903.

Application filed September 2, 1902, Serial No. 121,899. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I,JosEPH A. lVlANOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fristoe, in the county of Benton and State of Missouri, haveinvented a new and useful Automatic Wagon-Brake, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to wagon-brakes, and has for its object theproduction of a brake mechanism adapted to be operated automatically bythe load upon the wagon when moving down an incline or grade; and theinvention consists in certain novel features of construction,ashereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, Figure l is a plan viewof the running gear of a wagon, partially in section, with the,

improvement applied.v Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of thesame. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, illustrating the construction andoperation of thelockin g mechanism. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectionaldetail of the forward bolster and tongue-connecting mechanism. Figs. 5and 6 are enlarged sectional details illustrating the tongueconstruction and coupling. Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the lineVII VII, Fig. 2.

The invention may be applied to any ordinary form of farm or freightwagon, or what are known as lumber-wagons, and for the purpose ofillustration the ordinary running gear of a conventional wagon of thisclass is shown with such modifications as may be necessary to illustratethe improvements.

The forward axle is represented at 10, the rear axle at 11, the forwardwheels at 12 13, the rear wheels at 14 15, the forward movable bolsterat 16, the rear stationary bolster at 17, the forward hounds at 18, therear hounds at 19, and the tongue at 20, all these parts being of theusual construction except such slight modifications as are required toenable the improvements to be applied and which will be hereinafterexplained.-

The forward hounds 18 are formed with their sides parallel forward ofthe forward axle, as shown, and the rear portion of the tongue 20 isshown correspondingly parallelsided and movably supported between theparallel portions and the hounds, as shown.

The forward portions of the hounds 18 are formed withoppositely-disposed horizontal slots 21 22, and within these slotsfrictionpulleys 24 25 are adapted to move, the pivots of the pulleysbeing the pivot-pin 26 of the tongue 20, so that the tongue, while freeto vibrate in the usual manner upon its pivotpin 26, will likewisebehorizontally movable within the slots 21 22 and the friction of suchmovement minimized by the pulleys 24 25, as will be obvious.

The improved brake mechanism contains two reaches an upper reach 23,engaged by the linchpin 27 by its forward end within the forward axle,as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, the linchpin passing downward throughthe movable bolster 16 and also through all the parts of the forwardaxle in the ordinary manner, and a lower reach member 28, having alongitudinal slot in its forward end, (indicated at 29,) the slotengaging the linchpin 27, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the reach member28 may be moved longitudinally with reference to the forward axle. Therear end of the reach member 28 extends beneath the reach member 23 andis engaged bya keeper 30, attached to the rear hounds 19, as indicatedin Fig. 2. Between the reach member 28 and the hounds 19 is a wear-plate31, extending above the reach member 28, as shown.

Supporting the reach member 23, beneath the rear hounds 19, is awear-plate 55, pref erably arching upward, so as to keep the reachmembers 23 28 slightly separated at their rear portions to reduce thefriction.

The brake-beam is represented at 32, con nected transversely to thereachmember 28 and supported therefrom by suitable braces The outer ends ofthe brake-beam 32 are provided, respectively, with brake-shoes 34 35,adapted to engage the rear wheels 14 15 when the member 28 is movedbackwardly or the wheels moved forwardly 'in engagement with the shoes.The forward end ofthemember 28 is flexibly coupled to the rear end ofthe tongue 20 by 'alink 36, and when the tongue is relaxed the rearportion of the running-gear is free to move forward and cause the wheels14 15 to press against the brake-shoes, and thus set the brake.

The manner of coupling the member 28 to the tongue is shown more clearlyin Fig. 4.

This consists of a transverse tie-bolt 37, secured through the rear endsof the tongue members and providing a brace thereto, as shown. The endsof the brace 37 will be secured by riveting the ends in recesses in theouter surfaces of the tongue members or by employing nuts on the ends ofthe bolt or securing it in any other suitable manner so that no partprojects to interfere with the slidable action of the tongue between thehound members 18.

The portion 20 of the tongue extends rearwardly in substantial alinementat its rear end with the rear ends of the side braces of the tongue, sothat the bolt 26 passes through the three portions of the tongue, asindicated in Fig. 4.

Formed vertically through the rear portion of the tongue member 20, andalso through the bolt 37, are perforations through which rivets 38 39are secured to firmly unite the bolt 37 in the tongue, and thus greatlyincrease the strength of the parts and prevent any tendency of thetongue member to split or the bolt to become loosened therein.

As an additional strengthening means, tieplates 40 41 will be attachedto the sides of the rear of the tongue member 20 and secured thereto asby riveting or by other suitable means.

Formed in the rear end of the central tongue member 20 is a recess 42,through which the tie-bolt 37 passes, and engaging the tie-bolt withinthis recess is a link 43, the latter correspondingly engaging the link36, above mentioned. The link 36 is coupled flexibly to the member 28 bya yoke 44, the latter in turn being connected to the member 28, asshown. By this simple means the connection between the member 28 and thetongue member is freely yieldable both vertically and laterally, so thatthe various movements between the tongue and the hounds 18 and betweenthe forward'runninggear and the reach members will be accomplishedwithout cramping the parts or producing any undue strains or friction.By this arrangement the horizontal movement of the tongue member will becommunicated to the member 28, while at the'same time not afiecting therelative lateral or vertical movements between the parts. A universaljoint is therefore formed between the parts, which will effectuallyprevent breakage or undue strains.

The reach members 23 28 will be provided, respectively,with perforations45 46,as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, these perforations adapted to registervertically when the member 28 is in its forward position or when thedraft strain of the horses is upon the tongue 20, in which event thelatter will be drawn forward to its forward position, carrying themember 28 and the brake-beam with it. This will be the relativepositions of the parts when the brake is not in action or when the wagonis running on a level grade or up an incline,

and when this takes place it may be necessary to lock the brakemechanism in its disengaged position, and the registering apertures 4546 provide for thus locking the brake mechanism. This locking mechanismconsists in a lever 47, pivoted at 48 to the forward movable bolster 16and with one end turned downward at 49 and adapted, when the lever isdepressed, to enter the cavities 45 46, and thus serve as a means forlocking the two reach members together, as shown in Fig. 3. The oppositeend of the lever 47 is provided with a spring-plate 50, having anoperating-handle 51 on one side and provided with a stud 52, extendingfrom the other side toward the bolster. The spring-arm 50 extends upwardalongside one of the stakes 53 of the bolster, and the stake will beprovided with spaced recesses 54, adapted to receive the pin 52 at itsuppermost and lowermost positions. Thus it will be obvious that if theoperating-handle 51 be drawn outward, thus releasing the pin 52 from therecesses, the end 49 of the lever may be moved downward to engage therecesses 45 46 or moved upward to disengage it therefrom, as required,and the lever locked in either one of its two positions by theresiliency of. the spring-arm 50. By this simple means when the brakemechanism is not required the tongue member can be locked into itsforward position, so that it will not affect the brake mechanism. Bythis simple arrangement when the wagon starts down an incline the actionof the horses in holding back will cause the rear wheels 14 15 to beforcibly pressed against the brakeshoes 34 35, and the harder the horseshold back the harder will the brake be applied, so that the steeper theincline the stronger will be the application of the brake, thusautomatically adapting the brake to the work required. It will also beobvious that the heavier the load the stronger will be the applicationof the brake, and as the heavier the load the stronger will be the brakerequired. The device will thus automatically adapt itself to the load.

In running down slight inclines, where the horses will be required tohold back to a slighter extent, the force of the application of .thebrake will be correspondingly reduced,

so that the mechanism automatically adapts itself completely to thegrade over which the wagon is passing, and thus becomes a completeautomatic brake.

The parts may be readily adapted to any of the various forms of farm orlumber wagons and may be modified and changed in minor particularswithout affecting the principle of the invention or sacrificing any ofits advantages, and I therefore reserve the right to make suchalterations and modifications as may come within the scope of theclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In anautomatic vehicle-brake, the combination with a rear axle and hound, ofa front axle and hound, a pair of relatively longitudinally movablereaches situated one above the other and extending from the rear houndto the front axle, said reaches being provided beneath the front axlewith perforations to receive the pivoting-bolt of the latter, theperforation in the movable reach being elongated, alongitudinally-movable tongue sustained by the front hound, linkspivotally connecting the rear end of the tongue with the forward end ofthe movable reach, a brake-beam carried by the movable reach andprovided with brake-shoes, and a locking member pivoted to a fixed partof the running-gear and having a finger for engaging normallyregistering perforations formedin the reaches to lock the same againstrelative movement.

2. In an automatic vehicle-brake, the combination with a rear axle andhound, of a front axle and hound, the latter having forwardly-extendingportions provided with horizontal slots, a pair of relativelylongitudinally movable reaches situated one above the other andextending from the rear hound to the front axle and provided beneath thesame with perforations to receive the pivoting-bolt of the latter, theperforation in the movable reach being elongated, alongitudinally-movable tongue, a transverse rod carried by the latterand provided with antifrictionrollers mounted in the horizontal slots ofthe front hound, a link pivotally connecting the rear end of the tonguewith the forward end of the movable reach, a brakebeam carried by themovable reach and provided with brake-shoes, and a locking memberpivoted to a fixed part of the runninggear and formed for engagementwith normally registering projections formed in the reaches for lockingthe same against relative movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. MANOR. Witnesses:

S. D. SMITH, R. W. TUCKER.

